What: SVVSD officials will brief Erie Middle School parents about the condition of the building and when school will start.

When: 6 p.m. today

Where: Erie High School, 3180 County Road 5, Erie

LONGMONT -- Erie Middle School's opening is likely to be delayed a few days as school officials deal with the aftermath of the Aug. 1 explosion of a water heater, superintendent Don Haddad said Wednesday night.

School was scheduled to open Thursday, Aug. 16.

"Right now, our plan is to not start with students on Thursday or Friday," Haddad said.

Although details aren't finalized yet, Haddad said he expects to open on Monday, Aug. 20, instead.

Three people -- one district employee and two construction workers -- were injured on Aug. 1. No teachers or students were in the building at the time.

A water heater in a room off the wrestling area in the large gym exploded, Rick Ring, the district's chief operations officer, said Wednesday. He would not describe what damage the school sustained because the investigation is not complete, he said.

The area surrounding the explosion has been isolated, and remodeling of other parts of the school has continued, Ring said.

The district already has met with its insurer and received a $250,000 check, Haddad said. The district's deductible is $50,000, but it could pay less than that, depending on who is found to be liable for the incident, he said.

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Klipp Architecture and Adolfson & Peterson Construction were hired to renovate the school and expand its capacity to 950 students, from 532 students.

Construction began in November to renovate 50,000 square feet of the school's 115,000 square feet. Another 25,000 square feet are being demolished and replaced, as the second floor is being removed and new classrooms are being built on the northwestern and eastern sides of the school.

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